n

n

nThe texture of the cold and rough bricks was felt in every corner of her hand.

nDuke Melford gently swept the place and stilled her hand.

nShe pushed the bricks, and the surrounding bricks moved in, revealing a hidden space inside.

nThere was a myriad of scented candles on display.

nShe habitually counted the number of scented candles.

nThe number ’57’ was exactly right.

nBut why did something feel off?

n‘I stole because there is someone I wanted to brainwash.’

nHer own daughter knew her limits.

nShe was a wise child who knew the boundaries well and knew how to take care of herself.

n

n

nThen why would she touch her scented candles? She wasn’t so rash and reckless.

nWell, it didn’t matter now.

nShe wiped the dust accumulated on the candles.

nBlack dust got on her fingers, and she frowned.

nShe hasn’t done anything yet, but the remaining time is tight.

nAs she lifted her hand from the space and stepped back, the bricks moved back into place.

n“Duke, a letter has arrived.”

nWhen she saw the letter in the hand of her maid, Marina, the Duke’s eyebrow furrowed into a frown.

nIt was because of that damn seal stamped on the letter.

nThat pattern with arrows in the eagle’s heart.

nShe’s already sick of it.

nShe had snatched the letter.

nHow long do I have to wait?

nI’ve been waiting as long as I can. I’m losing my patience.

nIf you keep doing this, this side won’t be able to stand still.

nIt’s breaking down from the inside. I’m doubtful if I should trust and wait for you.

nCourtesy was hard to find after soaking her eyes in the letter.

nThe paper was crushed in the Duke’s hand.

nShe threw it away randomly.

nMarina picked it up carefully.

nDuke Melford clicked her tongue in annoyance.

nShe left the room in a huff with angry steps.

nThere was the sound of Marina carefully closing the door from behind.

nHer heels hit the floor sharply as if they represented her feelings.

n“Hey, but where are we going?”

n“I don’t know. Somehow it will work.”

nIt was a little louder than a whisper.

nIt was the sound she heard when she tried to go up the stairs.

nDuke Melford turned her head in the direction of the words.

nHer twin sons were wandering in the hallway.

nThe two children were carrying two thick bags as if they were going to leave.

n“Are you sure we’ll be alright?”

nThey noticed that the Duke was nowhere to be found.

nThe Duke smiled quietly at her sons.

nIt was time to take advantage of those children.

n* * *

nAs soon as I got up, I went to visit Alastair.

nThere was no particular reason.

nI was worried if our outfits would match for the upcoming banquet.

nNo, honestly, I missed him and wanted to see him.

nAfter opening the door wide, I realized I had forgotten to knock

nYou can’t keep one simple etiquette out of excitement, I thought to myself disparagingly.

n“Alastair?”

nMy excitement quickly turned into disappointment.

nHe wasn’t in the room.

nThe red-carpeted room was messy.

nThere was only old, luxurious furniture, but no Alastair.

nSplash-

nI was looking around the room with regret when the sound of water entered my ear.

nIt came from the bathroom.

n‘You must be washing up.’

nI felt a little embarrassed, but I decided to be brazen.

nI plopped into his bed and sat down.

nI had a splitting headache again.

nI struggled to ignore the shallow pain; now I wanted to be happy rather than sick.

nMy eyes studied the room to examine his taste.

nAn unexpected place caught my eye.

nA bandage was sticking out of a trash can.

nI got up from my seat to check it out, and I lowered myself to scrutinize it.

nIt was a bloody bandage.

nThe shock short-circuited my brain.

nClick—.

nThere was a sound of a doorknob spinning.

n“Serina?”

nI shifted my gaze from the bandage to him.

nAfter washing, his skin was damp.

nWater dripped from his wet hair flowed through his cheeks.

nHe came out with a rough bathrobe on but was embarrassed because I was in the room.

n“What is this?”

nI glanced at the bandage in the trash can.

n“Ah. I was injured a few days ago in a fight.”

nAlastair said as if it wasn’t a big deal, but it didn’t seem that way to me.

nIt was strangely annoying.

nIs there anybody who could hurt Alastair in the first place?

nI am not overestimating him.

nAs far as I know, only the male protagonist was a match for Alastair.

nBut it was too early for them to confront each other.

nThen there is only one person left.

n‘Mother.’

n“Are you worried about me?”

nHe combed back his wet hair with a smile.

nHe opened the bottom of his robe, slightly showing off his white abdomen, and muscular flanks, and minor wounds that were healing.

nI reached out and gently stroked the area.

n“Does it hurt a lot?”

n“….. It’s okay now.”

nHe covered his face with his hands. His ears were all red.

nOops.

nOnly then did I become aware of my actions. It was an unconscious act.

n“I’ll change my clothes.”

n“Oh, yes. I’ll come back later.”

nI left the room, trying as hard as I could to avoid looking at him.

nThe thought constantly floated in my head while I walked down the hall.

nThe ‘blood’ I saw on the weapon that I saw the last time I went to the mansion came to mind.

nWhat if it was Alastair’s blood?

nPerhaps the timing is just a coincidence, but the timeframe fit just right with the browning of blood.

nFrom observing the color, I could guess the date and time….

nIt was when Alastair strangled me.

nWas it a coincidence?

nThis speculation was reasonable because the only person locked up in the Hall of Hallucinations was Alastair.

nPrisoners were locked up in different areas.

nThe Hall of Hallucinations was designed and built strictly for Alastair.

nMy thoughts flowed…

nWhat if Alastair actually went to the Duke of Melford’s estate for ‘something’—was this while he was out of his mind?

nIt’s a sufficiently convincing hypothesis.

nThen what is that ‘something’?

nThere is one more question.

nAlastair said he got ‘injured in a fight.’

nIf my hypothesis is correct, he lied to me.

nSo why is he lying?

n

n

nAre you being threatened?

n‘I need more clues.’

nI can hardly get a hint.

nWhile immersed in my thoughts, I reached the front of my room.

nI sat down with the chair behind the table.

nI’m not sure whether Alastair was hiding something from me, so I couldn’t argue with him.

nI sighed.

nI don’t know anything.

nTap tap tap tap.

nFull of turmoil, my fingers struck the table.

n